Viking Nature Resort — private beachfront treehouses on Koh Phi Phi where you can snorkel over coral right off the sand

What sets Viking Nature Resort apart from other places on Koh Phi Phi is Loh Moo Dee Beach, the small, almost-private cove right in front of the resort. It's tucked into the trees on the eastern side of Koh Phi Phi Don, between Ton Sai and Long Beach. Step down from your bungalow, a few paces to the sand, and you can be in the water snorkelling over coral straight off the beach — this is the point reviews mention most, because it's an uncrowded beach with clear water, perfect both for people who want a quiet escape and for anyone who just wants to walk down and snorkel first thing in the morning before anyone else.

The rooms are the other draw. There are around 56 of them, hand-built wooden bungalows and treehouses, each individually decorated. They range from standard fan bungalows with a double bed, en-suite bathroom and balcony, to bigger units with garden or sea views, multi-level wooden treehouses with their own distinct character, right up to multi-bedroom family bungalows that sleep around 10. The look is raw, natural woodwork that blends into the forest — anyone who loves nature-style lodging with real character will be delighted — but understand that it's rustic, not a polished hotel room.

🛏️ Check availability

There's something to understand about getting there before you book, because Koh Phi Phi has no cars — you take a ferry from Phuket, Krabi or Ao Nang to Ton Sai Pier first. From the pier, the resort runs a free longtail-boat transfer that brings you around to Loh Moo Dee Beach (let them know your arrival time in advance), or you can walk the coastal path past Long Beach in around 15–20 minutes. The resort itself is only a few minutes' walk from Long Beach, which is a long stretch of clear water far prettier than the beaches in the village.

The overall feel is quiet, private and close to nature. It's a fair way from the party noise of Loh Dalum and the Ton Sai walking street, so it suits couples and families who want calm over buzz. On-site there's a Thai and seafood restaurant that reviews praise as tasty and reasonably priced for an island, plus in-house massage/spa. Staff get repeated mention for being friendly and helpful, arranging island boat tours, Maya Bay trips and snorkelling excursions to various spots.

🛏️ Check availability

Now for what you have to accept — and it's simply the truth of this style of place on the island. First, many rooms are fan-only, with no air-conditioning, so they can get hot and humid at times (some rooms do have air-con — check the room type carefully when booking). Second, the resort sits on a slope in the forest, with steep steps and rough paths throughout, awkward for wheeling luggage and not suited to anyone with limited mobility. Third, there are mosquitoes and insects, as you'd expect at a place in the middle of the forest, so bring your own repellent.

And because it's rustic, some rooms are older and basic, with inconsistent water pressure and hot water in certain units. Getting in and out relies on the longtail boat or the rocky coastal path, which can be inconvenient in rain or rough seas. But if you can take all of that in stride, what you get back is a private beach, wooden cabins with real character, and a price that's very low compared with other beachfront places on Koh Phi Phi.

🛏️ Check availability

Prices start around ฿1,000–฿1,400/night for a fan bungalow in the cheaper window, moving up to around ฿2,400 for a treehouse and roughly ฿5,000 for a large family bungalow. Prices swing clearly with the season, with the rainy months much cheaper. At check-in there's usually a refundable deposit of around 500 baht per room. It scores 8.9 on Booking.com (from over 4,000 real reviews), 8.5 on Agoda and 9.1 on Trip.com — a sign that most people who choose this style come away impressed.

In short, Viking Nature Resort suits people who want a natural, quiet Koh Phi Phi right on a private beach, on a modest budget. If you value waking up to snorkel off the sand, charming wooden cabins and peace over a spotless air-conditioned room and the comforts of a luxury resort — this gives you value that's hard to find at this price. But if you absolutely must have air-con, easy walking, or want to be in the thick of the party scene, look instead at places in Ton Sai village or over on the Loh Dalum side.